Grading-machine.



L. F. SMITH.

GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.13, 1912 Patented Aug. 18, 1914 7 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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gmam w {an m b L. F. SMITH.

GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILED 13110.13, 1912.

Patented Aug. 18, 19%

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO: PHOmLITHO" WASHINGIUN. D. C.

anion LINSEY F. SMITH, OF ROCKFORD, ALABAMA.

GRADING-MACHINE.

mower.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented Aug. 18, 1914.

Application filed December 13, 1912. Serial No. 736,569.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LINsnY F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Rockford, in the county of Coosa and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grading-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in grading machines.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character by means of which dirt may be readily removed from ditches and terraces or banks leveled and graded.

Another object is to provide a grading machine having an improved construction and arrangement of blade supporting frame and an improved arrangement of scraping blade adj ustably secured to the frame.

A further object is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of adjustable draft mechanism, whereby the weight of the operator on the body of the machine will hold the same in operative position.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and finally pointed out in the appended claim, it being further understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit of the invent-ion.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views: Figure 1, is a top plan view of my improved grading machine. Fig. 2, is a side view thereof. Fig. 3, is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 4, is an inner side View of the scraping blade. Fig. 5, is a vertical cross sectional view of the rear end of the machine taken on the line 5, 5, of Fig. 1, showing more particularly the ground engaging the plate which together with the weight of the operator holds the machine down in operative position, and the ground engaging plates for preventing the lateral slipping of the machine. Fig. 6, is a detail perspective view of the ground engaging plate for holding the rear end of the machine down in engagement with the ground. Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of the anti-slipping plates.

Fig. 8, is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 6, 6, of Fig. 1.

My improved grading machine comprises a main frame consisting of parallel side bars 1, one of which is of considerably greater length than the other. The rear ends of the side bars 1, are connected by a rear cross bar 2, and the forward ends of said side bars are formed on an angle and are connected by an obliquely disposed front cross bar 3. The side bars 1, are further connected between their ends by a series of intermediate cross bars 4. The main frame when thus constructed is braced by a. brace bar 5, arranged diagonally across from one of the rear corners of the frame to the opposite front corner as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, of the drawings. The brace bar 5, is set into the cross bars 4, which are notched to receive the same. Secured to the side and cross bars of the .main frame is a platform or floor 6, of boards, which are preferably spaced apart on the frame as shown.

The front cross bar 3, of the frame is notched on its outer side to receive the notched lower ends of perpendicular blade supporting standards or posts 7 and 8, which project upwardly to a suitable height above the platform. The standard 7, is securely braced on its rear side by a brace plate 9, the upper end of which is connected to the standard and the lower end of which is bent or given a half twist and engaged with the long side bar 1, of the frame. The standard 8, is considerably shorter than the standard 7, and said standard 8, is braced by a diagonally arranged inclined brace bar 10, having one end secured to the platform and the other end to the standard as shown.

Loosely connected at its rear end to the platform and long side bar 1, of the frame by a bolt 11, is an upwardly and forwardly projecting draft bar 12. The draft bar 12, engages and is adjustably secured to the upper end of the standard 7, by a bolt 13, which is engaged therewith, and with bolt holes 14, in the standard as shown. The forward end of the draft bar 12, projects some distance beyond the forward end of the machine and has therein transverse bolt holes 15, to receive a draft clevis (not shown).

Arranged on the forward end of the frame is a scraping and deflecting blade 16, one end of which is pivotally connected to the front cross bar 3, the lower end of the standard 7 the adjacent side bar 1, and the lower end of the brace plate 9, by a bolt 17. The opposite end of the blade 16, projects some distance from the shorter side of the an angle or curved from the lower to the upper edge as shown at 18. This end of the blade is adjustably secured to the standard 8, by a bolt 19, which is engaged with the blade and with one of a vertical series of bolt holes 20, inthe standard 8, as shown.

By pivotally connecting the blade at one end to the standard 7 and frame 1, and adjustably connecting the opposite end of the same to the standard 8, in the manner described the blade may be raised and lowered at this end and fastened at the desired angle or inclination. Secured to the outer side of the blade 15, and projecting below the lower edge thereof is a narrow show or plate 21, which engages the ground and protects the lower edge of the blade from wear. The blade is prevented from warping and splitting by cleats 16, secured to the rear side thereof, as shown.

Secured to the lower side of the left hand side bar of the frame at its rear end is a flat ground engaging plate 22,- which projects a suitable distance beyond the outer side of the side bar and which when the machine is in operation cuts into the dirt andaids in holding the frame down in engagement with the ground. Also secured to the left hand side bar at its rear end and on its inner side, and to the right hand side bar on the outer side of its rear end are vertically disposed stop plates 23, which bite into the ground as the machine moves along and securely holds the same against lateral slipping or sidewise movement.

By connecting the draft bar to the machine in the manner described, the rear end of the machine will be swung upwardly and the blade thus tilted forwardly at its upper edge, when the machine is drawn forwardly and when the blade is thus tilted the same is ineffective and the machine may be readily drawn from place to place. \Vhen it is desired to bring the machine into operative position, the driver or operator stands upon the rear end of the platform and his weight together with the engagement of, the plate 22, with the ground holds the machine down and the blade in position to scrape the dirt I when the machine is drawn along. frame and this end of the blade is formed on i From the foregoing description taken in connection wlth the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described'my said invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

In a grading machine a main frame comprising longitudinal side bars, a front cross bar secured to-the for-ward ends thereof and arranged at an oblique angle to the forward movement of the machine, a rear cross bar and a series of intermediate cross bars connecting said side bars, a platform arranged. on said frame upwardly projecting suitably braced standards-secured-to said front cross bar and platform, a scraping blade pivotally secured at one end of said standards, means to adjustably secure the opposite end of the blade to the other standard whereby the blade is held at the desired angle, a ground engaging plate secured to the lower edge of the blade, a ground engaging plate secured to one of the side bars of the frame at its rear end, whereby together with the weight of the operator the machine is held down in operative'position', anti-slipping plates secured to the side bars of the frame, and a draft bar secured at its inner end to the frame and platform and projecting forwardly and upwardly therefrom said forward end of the bar having an adjustable connection with one of said blade supporting standards.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature, in presence of two witnesses. LINSEY'F. SMITH.

Witnesses:

R. H. SMITH, J N0. W. BATsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,;by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0; 

